The Pirates called up righty Braxton Ashcraft and optioned RHP Isaac Mattson to Triple-A, manager Don Kelly told reporters on Monday afternoon. Ashcraft, 25, is now in line to make his big league debut, although it’ll come in a different role. Kelly said he’ll deploy Ashcraft out of the bullpen in a long relief or bulk innings role. The 6-foot-5 righty has predominantly started in the minors and pitched to a 5.03 ERA with 56 strikeouts in 48.1 innings this year for Triple-A Indianapolis. Ashcraft pitches in a fiery manner, deploying a mid-90s heater and two potentially plus breaking balls, and showed renewed confidence in his changeup earlier this spring. The Pirates will opt to let him settle in over shorter stints in the majors, as it appears for now that fellow prospect Mike Burrows, who they called up last week, will remain in the rotation, and Bubba Chandler continues to wait in the wings in Triple-A.
